Kate Garraway discusses wanting to donate her blood to husband Derek

Kate Garraway discussed wanting to donate her blood plasma to husband Derek Draper during his coronavirus battle on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday. 

The TV host, 53, said she she was ‘desperately researching anything she could do to help’ her husband who remains very sick in hospital. 

Co-host Adil Ray, 46, said: ‘On the show last week, you would have seen Kate talking about the potential importance of blood plasma transfusions for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. 

‘I was researching anything I could do to help’: Kate Garraway discussed wanting to donate her blood to husband Derek Draper during his coronavirus battle on GMB on Tuesday

‘That day the number of people offering to donate went up 300 per cent. 

Kate said: It’s a lovely lovely thing. The process which is similar to giving blood, only takes 45 minutes and can be used to help treat patients who aren’t producing enough of their own antibodies to fight COVID-19. 

‘The reason it’s popped up, why I was talking about it, was because when Derek first got sick, I was desperately researching anything I could do to help.

‘I watched him be consumed by the virus despite all the brilliant efforts of those around trying to help him in the NHS.’

Sad: Kate's beloved husband Derek remains very sick in hospital after falling ill with coronavirus back in March

Sad: Kate’s beloved husband Derek remains very sick in hospital after falling ill with coronavirus back in March

She continued: ‘I was told at the time, because it was one of the ideas I had, “what about giving my blood, there are antibodies in my blood because I’ve had it, will that help?” they said no because the trials for it hadn’t really started. 

‘I started talking about it last week because I found out that now it is being used which is fantastic.’ 

Adil said: ‘Kate, I will say this, you’re so inspiring at a time like this.’

Kate replied: ‘I don’t know about that, I feel very emotional about it actually, not just the idea that people are coming forward but that it might save lives.

Adil added: ‘We’re all watching you and how you’re dealing with such a terrible situation and how you’re dealing with it with such grace and positivity. It’s an inspiration, it really is, thank you. How is Derek?’

Kate told co-host Adil Ray: ' I'm hoping to see [Derek] this week. It was a stable day yesterday and I'm learning Adil that stable is sometimes good'

Kate told co-host Adil Ray: ‘ I’m hoping to see [Derek] this week. It was a stable day yesterday and I’m learning Adil that stable is sometimes good’

Kate said: ‘ I’m hoping to see him this week. It was a stable day yesterday and I’m learning Adil that stable is sometimes good. 

‘What we want is up days but a non down day is something to celebrate as well. It doesn’t necessarily get easier. But good to know things are moving forward, trials are being done and other lives can be saved.’ 

On Monday, Kate revealed she is reluctant to talk about Derek ‘every week’ on the show as she doesn’t want to upset viewers, but was reassured by Adil that she has been ‘inspiring.’

Kate said Derek ‘is very much still with us,’ but it is still a ‘waiting game’.

The presenter admitted she feels a level of guilt about returning to the job she loves, explaining: ‘You feel almost bad because oh I’m laughing and he’s still there in a minimally conscious state, it’s a difficult balance.’

She continued: 'What we want is up days but a non down day is something to celebrate as well. It doesn't necessarily get easier. But good to know things are moving forward, trials are being done and other lives can be saved'

She continued: ‘What we want is up days but a non down day is something to celebrate as well. It doesn’t necessarily get easier. But good to know things are moving forward, trials are being done and other lives can be saved’

‘I know everyone has been so lovely and are concerned, but then you don’t want to talk about it on GMB every time because it’s not cheering up everyone,’ she continued. 

Kate then admitted that ‘it was a worrying week last week’.’

‘We’ve still got lots of challenges, challenges with food, challenges with everything, with lungs with everything. We just want him to wake up.’

‘The nurses are putting this show on in the morning for him in the hope that might trigger something, but its a waiting game.’    

‘I’m lucky I’ve got the chance to wait and he’s still with us and lots of people don’t have that.’  

Kate added: ‘I’ve got to keep life going on so Derek has a life to get back to.’ 

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson told MailOnline on Tuesday: ‘The number of people who have recovered from coronavirus offering to donate plasma was 293% the normal last Monday after Kate spoke about her own desire to donate, following her husband’s illness.

‘We’re really grateful to Kate and Good Morning Britain for covering donation again today because we urgently people to donate now, to help during any second wave. 

‘If you’ve had coronavirus, you could saves lives by donating plasma. You could give the NHS the first treatment which actually attacks the virus. Register to donate at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk.’ 

A timeline of Derek’s coronavirus battle  

MARCH  

Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got ‘relatively close’ at the Prince’s Trust Awards on March 11 – Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March.  

She said: ‘Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] ‘god you look ill.’

 ‘He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,

‘I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance’

Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition. 

APRIL  

Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed ‘mild symptoms’.

Kate said: ‘Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I’m afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time.

‘I’m afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.’ 

MAY 

Kate said: ‘The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. 

‘But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.’

That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers

She said: ‘I’ll never give up on that because Derek’s the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty’

JUNE 

On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body

JULY 

On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.

On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to ‘get on with life’ during Derek’s recovery.   

She added that Derek had ‘opened his eyes’ after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.  

On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.    

On July 28, Kate revealed she’d paid an ‘extra emotional’ first visit to Derek, and admitted she’s ‘frustrated’ by his slow progress.